Distin Cornet, New York
Henry Distin was out of the brass instrument manufacturing
business after he sold his London factory to Boosey & Co. in
1868. He acted mostly as a music promoter, living in Belgium
during these years, but at some point made plans to move to
New York and build a modern factory there. He made the
move in 1877 and was back in the cornet business by 1878 as
indicated in the bell stamp on this cornet bell. Interestingly, he
occupied his first New York address, 78 E. 4th Street where
this cornet was made, for only about a year. He then moved
four blocks to 255 Bowery, immediately next door to F.W.
Busch, another seller/maker of cornets. Nothing seems to be
known of a connection between these two shops but it seems
likely that there was. Jules Levy endorsed both their products,
although apparently at different times. We can guess that in
order to get started in business, Distin might have had his
cornets made in Europe or imported parts to use in his
production. Busch had grown up in Markneukirchen, a major
regional center for musical instrument makers in Europe and
may have been in the business before moving to the US,
presumably maintaining business connections to the old country.
This is purely speculation and we don't know many details of
the business operations of these two men at this time. In 1880
Distin moves again to 115 E. 13th St. and in 1881 he is
associated with another concern with business ties to eastern
European brass makers, Moses Slater. Slater imported large
numbers of American and French style brass instruments and
claimed in advertising that he had a large factory in New York
under the supervision of Henry Distin. Distin moved to
Philadelphia in 1882 where he was in business with J.W.
Pepper, building a new factory and we have much more
evidence that this factory was actually built. Pepper was in the
publishing business as well as importing inexpensive instruments
from overseas. The earliest instruments made in the new
factory are marked: "Superior (eagle trademark) Made by Henry
Distin for J.W. Pepper Phila. and N. York". This partnership
seems to end by about 1886 and these two makers go their own
ways. Once in Philadelphia, Distin appeared somewhat more
stable and when he moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania in
1891, he was finally able to build his own modern factory with a
much larger production than at any previous time. Most of the
history above comes from William Waterhouse, The New
Langwill Index, Tony Bingham, 1993
This is the earliest known Distin instrument made (sold) in New
York, being serial number 108. It appears very similar to the
Levy model Distin made in London. The length and bell rim
are about the same at 12 5/8" and 4 7/8" respectively. The bore
is a bit larger at .465". It also is not as well preserved and even
though quite playable, the valves are too leaky to give it a good
playing comparison. There is enough of the finish intact to
retain some of the original beauty. It has gold trim including
inside the bell flare, caps, buttons, waterkey including mount,
screw and nipples, pull knobs and braces. Applying the gold
trim to the body of this cornet was a very labor intensive
process which involved masking with lacquer all the surfaces to
remain silver before going into the gold plating bath. The
engraving is attractive but not as high quality as I'm accustomed
to seeing on such a high quality instrument. The engraved
shield appears to have been intended for a presentation or
monogram but never carried out. This is very commonly seen
on Courtois cornets. It retains its original case, lyre and Levy
model mouthpiece, but the Bb and A shanks both appear to be
replacements.
A Distin Eb cornet made in Williamsport, Pennsylvania can be
seen here.
business after he sold his London factory to Boosey & Co. in
1868. He acted mostly as a music promoter, living in Belgium
during these years, but at some point made plans to move to
New York and build a modern factory there. He made the
move in 1877 and was back in the cornet business by 1878 as
indicated in the bell stamp on this cornet bell. Interestingly, he
occupied his first New York address, 78 E. 4th Street where
this cornet was made, for only about a year. He then moved
four blocks to 255 Bowery, immediately next door to F.W.
Busch, another seller/maker of cornets. Nothing seems to be
known of a connection between these two shops but it seems
likely that there was. Jules Levy endorsed both their products,
although apparently at different times. We can guess that in
order to get started in business, Distin might have had his
cornets made in Europe or imported parts to use in his
production. Busch had grown up in Markneukirchen, a major
regional center for musical instrument makers in Europe and
may have been in the business before moving to the US,
presumably maintaining business connections to the old country.
This is purely speculation and we don't know many details of
the business operations of these two men at this time. In 1880
Distin moves again to 115 E. 13th St. and in 1881 he is
associated with another concern with business ties to eastern
European brass makers, Moses Slater. Slater imported large
numbers of American and French style brass instruments and
claimed in advertising that he had a large factory in New York
under the supervision of Henry Distin. Distin moved to
Philadelphia in 1882 where he was in business with J.W.
Pepper, building a new factory and we have much more
evidence that this factory was actually built. Pepper was in the
publishing business as well as importing inexpensive instruments
from overseas. The earliest instruments made in the new
factory are marked: "Superior (eagle trademark) Made by Henry
Distin for J.W. Pepper Phila. and N. York". This partnership
seems to end by about 1886 and these two makers go their own
ways. Once in Philadelphia, Distin appeared somewhat more
stable and when he moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania in
1891, he was finally able to build his own modern factory with a
much larger production than at any previous time. Most of the
history above comes from William Waterhouse, The New
Langwill Index, Tony Bingham, 1993
This is the earliest known Distin instrument made (sold) in New
York, being serial number 108. It appears very similar to the
Levy model Distin made in London. The length and bell rim
are about the same at 12 5/8" and 4 7/8" respectively. The bore
is a bit larger at .465". It also is not as well preserved and even
though quite playable, the valves are too leaky to give it a good
playing comparison. There is enough of the finish intact to
retain some of the original beauty. It has gold trim including
inside the bell flare, caps, buttons, waterkey including mount,
screw and nipples, pull knobs and braces. Applying the gold
trim to the body of this cornet was a very labor intensive
process which involved masking with lacquer all the surfaces to
remain silver before going into the gold plating bath. The
engraving is attractive but not as high quality as I'm accustomed
to seeing on such a high quality instrument. The engraved
shield appears to have been intended for a presentation or
monogram but never carried out. This is very commonly seen
on Courtois cornets. It retains its original case, lyre and Levy
model mouthpiece, but the Bb and A shanks both appear to be
replacements.
A Distin Eb cornet made in Williamsport, Pennsylvania can be
seen here.
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